Electric switch



M. F. KOENIG ELECTRIC SWITCH Jan. 20, 1953 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1950 Jan. 20, 1953 KQENIG 2,626,334

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 5, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I \4 a4 l4 C 6) Patented Jan. 20, 1953 ELECTRIC SWITCH Martin F. Koenig, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammenlna, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application January 3, 1950, Serial No. 136,570

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to rotary switches of the slowmake, slow-break type adapted to control relatively high capacity alternating current circuits.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a smaller, more compact, and more rugged switch of the aforementioned character which will have higher current carrying capacity for its size than switches heretofore known.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide in a switch of the aforementioned character novel contactor construction which aiiords a switch of smaller size and higher current carrying capacity.

A further object of the invention is to insure positive contact pressure in a switch of the type under consideration when the switch is in a circuit-making position.

Another object is to provide a switch affording a multiplicity of different circuit controlling characteristics by the addition, substitution,

and/or rearrangement of a minimum number of parts.

Another object is to provide a switch of the aforementioned character of simplified cnstruction and consisting of a relatively small number of parts which are easier to assemble and less expensive to manufacture than prior switches of comparable current controlling capacity.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it being understood that the embodiments illustrated are susceptible of modification within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of a single wafer multiple circuit controlling form of the switch adapted for one-hole mounting;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line '3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the switch with all of its .parts in open-circuit position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 but illustrating certain of the switch parts in circuitmaking position;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a switch embodying the invention and illustrates the addition of a second wafer: unit as wellas superstructure affording flush mounting of the switch,

and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral In designates an extremely shallow recessed base of contour best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 molded from a suitable insulating material, such as Bakelite. As will be apparent, the switch may comprise one or more of such bases or wafer units depending upon the circuit controlling characteristics desired. Mounted at each side of a recess Ill of base In in such a manner as to permit access thereto from the exterior of the base In through windows or openings lt are combined stationary contact and terminal members H comprising a contact portion Il a flat connectingconductor portion N and a terminal portion preferably comprising a binding screw H". As shown in Fig. 4, provision is made for mounting one of such members H at each side of recess ID, if desired. However, if only one of such members is required, an insulating closure I2 (Fig. 7) may be utilized to plug each unused window to aid in rendering the switch dust tight.

The switch is further provided with contactors l3 to cooperate with each of the stationary contacts ll, said contactors being of resilient current conducting material and being of the form best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and '1. Each of such contactors [3 comprises a contact portion l3, a terminal portion 13 preferably carrying a bincl ing screw assembly [4, and a flat double reflexed connecting portion l3 of S-shape as illustrated. Each of the contactors or movable contact carriers I3 is mounted within recess It of base It at one or the other sides thereof with their respective contact portions l3 in position to make contact with the contact portion H of their respective cooperating stationary contacts as shown; while the terminal portion 13 of each contactor projects beyond the side wall of recess 10 through a slit It therein and into an auxiliary recess 10, said slit and the walls of said recess [0 being adapted to maintain contactor 13 in position and said auxiliary recess being adapted to accommodate the aforementioned binding screw assembly l4. As shown said auxiliary recess Hi opens to the exterior of base It to render the binding screws accessible therefrom. Where any of the recesses Hi are not utilized, they may be plugged with insulating members l2 (Fig. 7).

Contactors 13 being of resilient material, are formed so that contact portions 13 are biased away from theirrespective cooperating stationary contacts II, engagement thereof being efi'ected by positive action of a cam member I5 rotatably mounted within recess III of base I (Figs. 4 and 5) preferably centrally thereof. The cam I5 may be of the contour illustrated therein or may be of any other desired contour, as for example, the contour of the cam I5 illustrated in Fig. 7, to efiect any desired commutation of contactors I3 and stationary contacts I I.

Rotation of cam I5 is eifected by rotation of a shaft I 6 (Fig.2) which may be of sufficient length to extend through all of the wafer units utilized and preferably has a portion I6 of polygonal form in cross section to effect non-rotatable connection with each cam I5 utilized. As illustrated, the aforementioned portion I6 is square in cross section whereas the openings I5 in cams I5 are of star shape to afiord connection therebetween in various angular relationships.

As will be apparent, rotation of cam I5 will effect movement of contactors I3 from their biased open position as shown in Fig. 4 to the circuit-making position illustrated by the right hand contactor I3 in Fig. 5, such movement being eifected by a camming action against the inherent bias of contactors i3 to effect engagement of the contacts and ultimately to compress the double refiexed portions I3 in accordion fashion thereby absorbing the remaining movements of cam I5 in reaching circuit-making position. The aforementioned compression of contactors I3 after engagement of the contacts I3 and II not only insures positive and constant contact pressure in the closed position of the switch contacts but also the concomitant accordion like movements of contactors I3 lessens the strain and prolongs the life of the contactors. Moreover, the aforedescribed arrangement, construction, and cooperation of parts not only provides a switch of fewer and simpler parts and of more rugged construction, but aifords higher current controlling capacity while maintaining a minimum size for the switch.

As aforementioned, switches embodying the invention may be constructed of one or more wafer units stacked one above the other with insulating members I1 interposed therebetween, each unit being of similar construction and having a common actuating shaft I6 extending therethrough. Additionally, the switch units have a common superstructure which may be of construction similar to that disclosed and more fully described in Patent No. 2,395,572 issued to Meuer et al. and assigned to the same assignee as is the present invention. As will be understood, such superstructure may comprise a cover plate I8, indexing and positioning means I9 (Fig. 2) and a pair of cooperating stop plates 20, 20 (Fig. 3) to limit rotation of shaft I6 if desired. Additionally, the switch may be provided with onehole mounting means 2I (Fig. 2) comprising an externally threaded bushing 2I and associated nuts 2H, or means for flush mounting (Fig. 6) comprising a superstructure 22 attached to cover plate I8 preferably by means of rivets 23 which extend through each of the wafer units utilized and maintain the entire switch in assembled relation.

As best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, further circuit controlling characteristics may be provided in the switch by the addition of connecting busses 24 bridging binding screws I i of the same wafer unit, and similar connecting busses 25 (Fig. 7) may be utilized to vertically connect binding screws I4 or II of adjacent wafer units where more than one of the latter is utilized, thus affording a switch having a great variety of circuit controlling as well as circuit commutating characteristics by addition and/0r arrangement of a very few simple parts.

I claim:

1. In a compact slow-make, slow-break rotary switch capable of handling relatively high capacity alternating currentcircuits, a stationary contact, a contactor inherently biased out of engagement with said stationary contact and comprising a flat resilient conducting member of double reflexed form, and a rotatable cam to initially move said contactor against its inherent bias into engagement with its cooperating stationary contact and with further rotation compress said contactor in accordion fashion to maintain positive and constant pressure between the engaged contacts.

2. In a compact slow-make, slow-break rotary switch capable of handling relatively high capacity alternating current circuits, a stationary contact, a cooperating movable contact, and means for eifecting engagement of said contacts and to insure positive and constant contact pressure during such engagement, said means comprising a strip type resilient contact carrier having at least two reflex bends and carrying said movable contact, said contact carrier inherently biasing said movable contact out of engagement with its cooperating stationary contact, and means for eifecting movement of said contact carrier against its inherent bias to effect engagement of said contacts and with further movement compress the double refiexed bends of said contactor in accordion fashion to maintain positive and constant pressure between the engaged contacts.

3. In a compact slow-make, slow-break rotary switch, a stationary contact, a contactor inherently biased out of engagement with said stationaiy contact and comprising a flat resilient conducting member having at least two reflex bends, and a rotatable cam to eifect movement of said contactor into engagement with its cooperating stationary contact, remaining movement of said cam to its full circuit-making position compressing the double refiexed bends of said contactor in accordion fashion to afford positive and constant contact pressure between said contactor and its cooperating stationary contact.

4. In a compact A. C. rotary electric switch, the combination with an insulating base having a recess for housing the switch parts, of a combined stationary contact and terminal member mounted in said recess and having 'a terminal portion accessible exteriorly of said base, a movable contact, a resilient contactor having a terminal portion anchored to said base and accessible exteriorly thereof, said contactor also having a free end carrying said movable contact and having a double refiexed intermediate portion inherently biasing said movable contact out of engagement with its cooperating stationary contact, and means engageable with the free end of said contactor for movement of said movable contact into engagement with its cooperating stationary contact as a stop and thereafter compressing said reiiexed intermediate portion in accordion fashion to maintain positive and constant pressure between said contacts.

5. An A. C. rotary electric switch comprising in combination, at least one wafer type switch unit comprising an insulating switch housing, a stationary contact within said housing, a movable contact for cooperation with said stationary contact, a resilient contactor within said housing having one end anchored thereto and also having a free end carrying said movable contact and a double refiexed intermediate portion inherently biasing said movable contact out of engagement with said stationary contact, means engageable with the free end of said contactor for movement of said movable contact into engagement with its stationary contact as a stop and thereafter compressing said refiexed intermediate portion in accordion fashion to maintain positive and constant pressure between said contacts, switch operating means connected to said last mentioned means, and means affording attachment at will of other similar wafer type switch units including connections affording operation of such additional wafer units by said aforementioned switch operating means.

MARTIN F. KOENIG.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 775,797 Cade Nov. 22, 1904 1,013,658 Jacobs Jan. 2, 1912 1,094,690 Wood Apr. 28, 1914 2,182,715 Yeske Dec. 5, 1939 2,319,503 Glogau May 18, 1943 2,387,055 Bryant Oct. 16, 1945 2,395,572 Meuer Feb. 26, 1946 2,529,652 Dicke Nov. 15, 1950 

